=== Doogie ===

It says on LL that despite Fister's three runs earned, and reportedly "nervous" demeanor, that actually Fister's BIP results were good.  He gave up one hard-hit ball, four popups, and two grounders.

Sully e-called the game, it says here, and in the 12:29 and 12:55 comments, I figured out that I assumed Fister's start all wrong.

So, that's cool.  GL reminds that Fister isn't on as short a list as I fear he is ... it's hard to remember the last time I rooted this hard for a fringe guy ... but still.  If his first two early-March games had (1) five strikeouts in 2 IP and (2) that game, then I issue a retraction.  Probably Fister doesn't need a couple of lockdown starts inmediatamente.

Don't tell anybody I un-fizzled him.

........

The 1:04 comment is why Lookout Landing has 20,000 readers.

.

=== Yep, What a Con Cept, We Could All Use a Little Change ===

Shannon Drayer's blog is warm and reassuring about the Lopez 3B situation.  Drayer's blog is a good place to get a feel for how the M's shot-callers are looking at things.  When she's friendly towards a situation, probably the M's are too.  

They obviously want Lopez at 3b.  Why?  Well, according to Brock and Salk, every time you ask anybody with the M's about Lopez, they mention either (a) his 170-lb starting weight, or (b) his 220-lb current weight.   According to this line of reasoning, the Brewers' transplanted brain just doesn't view Lopez as an NL second baseman.   Remember, the NL is classic baseball, not 220-pounders up the middle.

Is Jose really that much bigger?  No.  His range problems are way overstated and, IMHO, a reflection of the fact that we've got NL guys in here calling the shots.  It doesn't matter much whether he's actually fine at 2B.  The shot-callers don't care for him there.

Anyway, SSI is sticking with its stealth theory:  that if Lopez is dealt midseason when the Padres lower the C-130 gate to airdrop Tank Gonzalez, it's a whale of a lot easier to replace your 3B than your 2B.

............

I agree with Sully that there are tricky plays at 3B -- the backhander, the swinging bunt -- it's as if Jose is playing 2B, only in on the grass every play.

True dat, but Lopez has played a little third, and Wakamatsu knows that Jose Lopez has hands, not range.

.............

Taro consistently asks, do you want to give up those peachy-keen 2009 UZR's?  I question the data.  I just don't buy the 2009 UZR's as hard as some do.

Yes, I do throw out, er, temper the 2009 UZR's:  I think they were maybe Figgins good (5-10 runs) and Lopez okay (0 to -5 runs).    I think in 2010, if you gimme a good ST for Lopez, it projects to +10 to +15 for the SB king Figgins at 2B, and +5 or better for the 3B Lopez.

...............

I could be wrong, but will remind that the M's are going to be wrong with me.  Yep, what a con-cept.

.

=== Adam Moore ===

Drayer also clues us in to the fact that the M's are feeling warm-and-fuzzy about Moore.

SSI called Moore as the Opening Day starter last October, so how 'bout a little love for the mainframe.  :- )  Anybody else call Moore, C in February, much less October?  Nah, every Bard in here had to be the starter.  Off the tarp in right-center, babe.  Just like Moore's gonna be doin' for us.

It becomes apparent that the M's worked with Kenji Johjima towards a return to Japan, precisely because they were not uncomfortable with Moore at the plate.

It's tough to bet your pennant on a rookie catcher.  No doubts there.  But Moore has a set of unusual attributes that should allow him to beat the house:

• Steely-calm attitude
• Compact stroke
• Gap-to-gap power, weights and waits, slows the game down
• Aggressive approach to handling the pitching staff
• Unusually gifted across-the-board
  

We've been warning for two-three years, the Seattle Mariners have seen Adam Moore as a latent ML impact catcher, capable of being one of the five best catchers in the league. 

But Wakamatsu's choice of words:  "He's got a chance to be a front line guy."  Wok said it better.

See you at the ballpark,

Dr D